Religion

To Leo Xiii

by Lionel Johnson 1867–1902

From Poems

Religion

Leo! Vicar of Christ,
His voice, His love, His sword:
Leo! Vicar of Christ,
Earth's Angel of the Lord:

Leo! Father of all,
Whose are all hearts to keep:
Leo! Father of all,
Chief Shepherd of the sheep:

Leo! Lover of men,
Through all the labouring lands:
Leo! Lover of men,
Blest by thine holy hands:

Leo! Ruler of Rome,
Heir of its royal race:
Leo! Ruler of Rome,
King of the Holy Place:

Leo! Leo the Great!
Glory, and love, and fear,
Leo! Leo the Great!
We give thee, great and dear:

Leo! God grant this thing:
Might some, so proud to be
Children of England, bring
Thine England back to thee!

1892.

MLA

Johnson, Lionel. “To Leo Xiii.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/johnson/19/.

Chicago

Johnson, Lionel. “To Leo Xiii.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/johnson/19/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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